Fear of crime: A review of the literature
Abstract
The literature on fear of crime has grown rapidly in the last three decades. This paper examines the reasons for this growth and attempts to put some structure on the work to date. The inadequacies of measures of fear of crime are discussed and alternative approaches suggested. Alternative explanatory theories are compared and strategies for reducing fear reviewed.
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Women from low-income backgrounds are likely to feel under constant threat of social victimisation and sexual harassment.
“For example, women from lowincome backgrounds are likely to feel under constant threat of social victimisation and sexual harassment (Hale, 1996).”
From Women's perceived safety in public places and public transport: A narrative review of contributing factors and measurement methods (2025) · cites this paper as Hale, 1996
Cites
Social Change and Crime Rate Trends: A Routine Activity Approach
Cohen, L. E., & Felson, M. (1979) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2094589 · Cited by 8,856 · see citing works
Fear of Rape among Urban Women
Warr, M. (1985) · Social Problems · doi:10.2307/800684 · Cited by 388 · see citing works
STANKO, E. A., & HOBDELL, K. (1993) · The British Journal of Criminology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjc.a048333 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A POLICE-INITIATED FEAR-REDUCING STRATEGY
BENNETT, T. (1991) · The British Journal of Criminology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjc.a048075 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
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Foster, S., & Giles-Corti, B. (2008) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.03.017 · Cited by 588 · see citing works
Paydar, M., Kamani-Fard, A., & Etminani-Ghasrodashti, R. (2017) · Cities · doi:10.1016/j.cities.2016.10.002 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
What does the public want police to do during pandemics? A national experiment
Nix, J., Ivanov, S., & Pickett, J. T. (2021) · Criminology & Public Policy · doi:10.1111/1745-9133.12535 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Dubey, S., Bailey, A., & Lee, J. (. (2025) · Cities · doi:10.1016/j.cities.2024.105534 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Suburban neighbourhood design: Associations with fear of crime versus perceived crime risk
Foster, S., Knuiman, M., Wood, L., & Giles-Corti, B. (2013) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.07.015 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Exploring the determinants of victimization and fear of online identity theft: an empirical study
Guedes, I., Martins, M., & Cardoso, C. S. (2023) · Security Journal · doi:10.1057/s41284-022-00350-5 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
The Punitive Woman? Gender Differences in Public Attitudes Toward Parole Among an Australian Sample
Dodd, S. (2018) · International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology · doi:10.1177/0306624x17739560 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
- Authors
- Hale, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Kent (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hale, C.
- ORCID
- Hale, C.
- Venue
- International Review of Victimology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1996-01
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 79-150
- ISSN
- 0269-7580 (ISSN-L)
- 2047-9433
- OpenAlex
- W2156619121
- Cited by
- 1,579
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 61 · 2025: 72 · 2024: 82 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 93 · 2020: 171 · 2019: 129 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 53 · 2016: 68 · 2015: 75 · 2014: 61 · 2013: 62 · 2012: 59
- FWCI
- 41.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Review of Victimology (publishedVersion)
- OpenGrey (Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Law › Criminal Justice and Penology
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
- Keywords
- fear of crime, victimology, crime perception
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